John Louis McAndrew

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+ John L. McAndrew, DDS

12/21/1927 — 9/16/2020

He bore witness to the power of love

and made the world a better place,

teaching us the dignity of the other,

the stranger, the poor, the voiceless.

And with his song, he gave us a voice. 

On the longest night of the year in 1927 on a farm in Lost Nation, Iowa, John Louis McAndrew entered this world in the same farmhouse and same bed where his father had been born 49 years earlier.  He was the 10^th and last child of Philip McAndrew and Jane “Jen” McGonigle McAndrew.  Early on, John loved to sing and shared his gift with all who knew him.   He will always be remembered for his beautiful tenor voice singing sad Irish songs, show tunes, and love songs.  

John was a beneficiary of the GI Bill after serving in Korea as a young man and instilled his love of learning in all of his children.   He attended St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, and then the University of Iowa for Dental School where he earned his DDS degree.  After moving to California with his growing family in 1956, he worked as an Oral Surgeon on North Broadway in Santa Ana for over thirty years with an amazing group of women that he always called his “Girls.”  Long after his retirement, John and his “Girls“ celebrated several reunions.

John was a spiritual man who filled his life with faith and love.  John and Therese were early members of St. Cecilia Parish in Tustin where John attended daily mass for decades.   In addition, he supported vocations through the Serra Club and served the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange as an Ancient Acolyte.  He was a longtime volunteer and supporter of the Catholic Worker Community in Santa Ana. 

Because John loved babies and children, he had many.  He was so proud of all of his children, that all of his children have a love of learning and graduated from college, and that all of his grandchildren are on that path. 

John’s unabashed Catholic faith and love of music sustained him through his decline.  Music was the throughline of his life, a gift he loved to share with others. Music provided the vocabulary of love and connection for his family.  Even as he struggled to find words to speak, a familiar song would light up his face, and he would sing all of the words.

John is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Therese McNamara McAndrew, his 8 “only” children, 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Children:  Anita Harmon (Greg), John (Maureen), Tom (Deborah), Paul (Cathy), Eileen, Molly Thompson (Al), Steve “Esteban” (Georgina), Nora Maginnis (Mike).   Grandchildren:  Dan, Nick and Wyatt Harmon; Matthew, Luke and Brian McAndrew; Ellen, Nate and Johann Myers; Megan, Kate, Lin, Kevin, Tricia Thompson; Osiris Robles. Greatgrandchildren:  Jack and Ben, Henry and Louisa, Maura, Vanessa and Kobi.   John is also survived by his loving caregiver, Zaida Pizarroso, who provided dignity and humor as John’s light dimmed (we called her the “Dad Whisperer”). 

John is joined in Heaven with his parents Phil and Jen and his sisters and brothers Ursula, Phil (Ann), Clem (Loretta), Ray, Marie Hughes (Dick), Rosalie Tiedje (Al), Mary Hart (Jack), and Paul.   He is survived by his brother, Bob (Jeanne) of Connecticut. 

In lieu of flowers, please honor John’s memory with a donation to Isaiah House at 316 S. Cypress Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92701 or St. Cecilia Church at 1301 Sycamore Ave., Tustin, CA 92780. 

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